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News Blog: Safe speeds are key to Portland's Vision Zero strategy

(Nov. 18, 2016) Small changes in motor vehicle speed have a big impact on safety for street users.

In a crash, a person walking is eight times more likely to die when hit at 40 miles per hour compared to 20 mph.

The close relationship between speed and safety explains why Portland’s draft Vision Zero Action Plan makes speed one of the four primary focus areas, joining impairment, dangerous behaviors and street design. Unsafe speeds contributed to 47 percent of deadly crashes in Portland from 2005 through 2014.

“An average trip in Portland is less than four miles,” says Clay Veka, Vision Zero Project Manager at PBOT. “High speeds may shave just a few minutes off of trip time, while greatly increasing the chance of seriously injuring or killing someone in the event of a crash.”

Portland’s draft Vision Zero Action Plan, heading to Portland City Council on December 1, has three actions to support safe speeds, including adding more speed safety cameras on High Crash Network streets, gaining local authority to set speeds, and using street design to align posted speeds with actual travel speeds.

Veka says that the goal is to create streets that help all people reach their destination safely, regardless of how they choose to travel. “As we travel on Portland streets, let's look out for each other and chose safe speeds.”

First speed safety cameras show results

Speeds are safer on SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway following installation of speed safety cameras in August.

The automated cameras photograph people driving over the speed limit. After police review, the City issues citations based on these photographs. The new cameras have resulted in a 91 percent reduction in top-end speeders—people traveling more than 50 miles per hour in the 40 mph zone (see table). Overall speeding is down by 60 percent at SW 39th Ave. near the location of the cameras. Safer speeds extend at least four blocks west for eastbound drivers.

Speeding on SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway before and after speed safety camera installation.

Over the next year, PBOT will install speed safety cameras on 122nd Avenue, outer SE Division and Marine Drive, all of which are part of the High Crash Network.

Posted speeds getting safer across Portland

In addition to enforcing existing speed limits, PBOT looks for opportunities to make posted speeds safer.

PBOT frequently requests—and receives—permission from the Oregon Department of Transportation to lower speeds on street segments (see table). The process is time consuming, however, and speed reduction is based on existing motor vehicle travel speeds rather than recommended safe speeds for all street users.Under Oregon law, the state controls speed limits on all streets, including those in Portland.

A new process, approved by ODOT in October, will help PBOT accelerate changes to speed limits while placing greater weight on the safety of people traveling by all modes.

Portland is committed to ending traffic violence in our communities. Through the Vision Zero program, the City of Portland and our partners are working to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our streets by 2025.